All about dinosaurs, fossils and prehistoric animals by Everything Dinosaur team members.

With the introduction of a new Brachiosaurus replica from Papo of France questions have been asked regarding the actual size of this model. The Brachiosaurus is due to be released in June/July this year, it is the first Sauropod model to be made by Papo for their “Dinosaures” range. This range includes models of small dinosaurs such as Oviraptor and Velociraptor as well as more sizeable ones such as Stegosaurus, Triceratops and T. rex.

The New Papo Brachiosaurus Model

Large size model of a Brachiosaurus (Papo Brachiosaurus)

Picture Credit: Everything Dinosaur/Papo

The model measures 40cm in length, it stands 31.5cm tall and it is 11.5cm wide. We estimate that this gives this particular model an approximate scale of 1:55 if the East African Brachiosaur material is regarded as representative. Although there has been a great deal of scientific research carried out on Brachiosaur fossil material over the last few years (remembering the Giraffatitan/Brachiosaurus debate), species such as B. altithorax are estimated to be up to 22-25 metres in length. Based on this data, this would give the new Papo model an approximate scale of 1:55, for example, one centimetre on the model equals 55 centimetres on the actual dinosaur.

One Response to “Dimensions of the New Papo Brachiosaurus Model”

Giraffatitan brancai is a name ascribed to fossils previously related to Brachiosaurus brancai. Studies by the highly respected (and our chum Gregory S. Paul) and later by George Olshevsky about twenty years ago, showed differences in skeletal material between some of the original African fossils and Brachiosaur fossils from the USA. The main difference relates to the shape of the vertebrae. Giraffatitan may have had a ridge between the shoulders, extending down the back bone, like the withers on a horse. These may have anchored unusually deep neck tendons perhaps indicating a heavier neck than in other Brachiosaurids. Animals are roughly the same size but the Giraffatitan may be slightly heavier.